The Alikichi (sp) AAR narrative was spectacular. I wish he would do more of those Narrated AARs on other games.

I was never interested in Ancient Games, but with the AAR, this had my interest. I see that this game is not popular with the Forum and I think it is very obvious that other than going up in complexity, there is no replayability with this at all. Small Map, same objective, same army, same everything - sorry if I am stating and repeating the obvious.

With that said, the above comment says something about the NEXT GAME. What is that next game? I ask because the engine for this and AI really seem like they could be awesome, but there is no where to go with this game in its present state.

I hope this post is taken as a positive and not as a negative.., I really meant for it to be positive.

I see that this game is not popular with the Forum and I think it is very obvious that other than going up in complexity, there is no replayability with this at all. Small Map, same objective, same army, same everything - sorry if I am stating and repeating the obvious.

Not true. In my opinion, there is quite a lot of replayability. I bought the game when it came out and still play it every now and then. The AI always gives a nice challenge and it's very painless and quick to play Hannibal, unlike many other Matrix games. I've bought some of the big Matrix titles, but they have been incredibly tedious to play and I've given up on most of them long time ago. And most of those games have a mediocre AI, unlike Hannibal.

Even if you aren't terribly interested in ancient history, this wargame is very enjoyable and challenging to play.

The forum is quiet, but that doesn't mean nobody plays the game anymore.

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"But here we are in a chamber pot, about to be ****ted upon."

-French General Auguste Ducrot before the Battle of Sedan, September 1870

I, also, replay the game from time to time. It is a nice game when you want a challenging AI. Due to the cards I get and the fact that the Senate do what they want and not what I want makes most of my games different from the previous ones.

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"It would seem that you have no useful skill or talent whatsoever," he said. "Have you thought of going into teaching?"

I love the game, and there is certainly replayability, but more could be done without any major revisions -- for example creating alternative starting scenarios, perhaps a 1st Punic War scenario, a 'what if Hamilcar was still alive' scenario, etc. Keep the same system and map, but shuffle the starting positions to change the strategic challenge. Lots of wargames do this as a means of increasing replayability.

Also, a 'dlc' type expansion that, say, expanded the map to include Macedon and let you play that faction as well would be fascinating -- I'd certainly buy it.

I guess what I'm basically saying is: this is one of the most elegant, addicting war gaming systems I've ever played and I really want to see more done with it.

(My personal secret wish would be a 'Rome: Total War' style version including the entire Mediterranean area, with dozens of factions and open-ended play, including diplomacy and a simple logistics system, letting you guide one kingdom or people from obscurity to mastery of the region... now that would have replayability!)